Bali wants to become an autonomous tourism region

Bali officials are petitioning the government to grant the province special autonomous status for tourism. Local leaders say this will help them manage the island in an environmentally sustainable, economically prosperous and beneficial way for local people.

Bali’s special autonomous tourism region is designed to ensure that all tourism development options are managed consistently and uniformly by one agency. Officials on the island say Bali’s rapid growth but lack of scale is due to spatial planning and building permits being issued without a comprehensive, unified vision. The head of the Denpasar Investment and Integrated One Stop Service, Ida Bagus Benny Pidada Rurus, points out that one of these inconsistencies is reflected in the way that hotel and accommodation business licenses are issued in Bali.

Hotels and resorts with more than 200 rooms must apply for a license at the central level. Those with 101-200 rooms apply for a license at the provincial level, and those with 100 rooms or less apply at the district level. "Usually these departments do not consult each other before issuing a license," Rurus said.

I Made Dwija Suastana, Secretary of DPD Prajaniti, a government organization in Bali, and a business owner, also called for the establishment of an emergency committee so that Bali can issue bans as quickly as possible.

With its natural landscape, pristine beaches and affordable prices, Bali has long been one of the most popular destinations in Indonesia and Asia, welcoming 11.4 million visitors in 2023. In 2024, the government aims to welcome 14 million visitors.

Bali Statistics Agency data shows that arrivals to the island reached nearly 470,000 in March, up more than 3% from February. April was the busiest month in 2024 for Bali's airport, with more than 1.1 million international passengers and more than 830,000 domestic visitors. May is expected to surpass April.

Tourism in April increased thanks to the national and international holidays. Elon Musk's surprise visit to Bali in early May was also a reason for the high number of international visitors to the island this month.

Bali is also an increasingly attractive destination for Digital Nomads and has become a second home for professionals, entrepreneurs, and freelancers who rely on computers and the Internet.